Another View: Time for state to address children's needs

It's surprising that a fiercely family-oriented state like Louisiana would be ranked near the bottom for taking care of its children. But it is.

The state ranked 47th in the annual Kids Count report, an assessment by the Annie B. Casey Foundation.

The statistics are staggering. More than a quarter of the state's children - 310,000 of them - live at or below the federal poverty level, an annual household income of $23,850 or less for a family of four, according to an article by Gannett Capital Bureau reporter Mike Hasten.

Louisiana is fourth highest in the nation in terms of children living in poverty.

Between 2008 and 2012, 18 percent of Louisiana children were living in high-poverty areas, compared to 13 percent nationwide.

David Gray, Poverty to Opportunity Project coordinator for the Louisiana Budget Project, said as a state, Louisiana is "underinvesting in our children."

And that adds to the challenge they face. Consider:

» Thirty-six percent of Louisiana parents lack employment security - a steady full-time job - the survey said.» The state's teen pregnancy rate is high. In 2012, 43 out of 1,000 teens gave birth in Louisiana, a factor in perpetuating poverty. Nationally, the number was 29 in 1,000.» In 2012, 48 percent of the state's children - more than half a million - lived in single-parent homes, making the state 48th in the family and community category, compared to 42 percent nationally.

The state is doing some things right. Because of the Louisiana Children's Health Program - LaCHIP - only 5 percent of the state's children are without health insurance, ranking better than all but 15 other states. LaCHIP is part of the state's Medicaid program.

The state does slightly better than the national average in early childhood education. Fifty percent of Louisiana's 3- and 4- year-olds were not in preschool programs in 2010-2012, compared to a national average of 54 percent.

But the study shows that 77 percent of fourth-graders were not proficient at reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test.

Seventy-nine percent of eighth graders were not proficient in math. Nationally, that number is 66 percent for both grades in both subjects.

People who care about the well-being of children must call upon their legislators to study laws and policies in states with a better track record. Closer to home, community members can mobilize their church and civic groups and other non-profits to provide assistance to children of poverty - tutoring, enrichment, school supplies, books, summer feeding programs and mentoring are a good start.

It's a complex and daunting problem.

And it's time to tackle it.

- The Daily Advertiser

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Another View: Time for state to address children's needs

It's surprising that a fiercely family-oriented state like Louisiana would be ranked near the bottom for taking care of its children. But it is.